The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-27
HE TAKES H1s OWN LIFE.
Suicide of Lieutenant John w. Danen
hover, of Arctic Fame,


ANNAPOLIS, Nd, April 20.-Lieutenant
John w. Danenhower, of Arctic fame, was
discovered at 10 o'clock this morning dead
In his quarters at the Naval Academy,
with bullet hole in his right temple. He
was found lying On his rug in front of his
fireplace, with q tag tied to his button-hole
saying: Send 10 my brother in Washing
ton" Although he has had mental trou-
bles since he returned from the Arctic
regions, what Immediately led to the sui
eide is thought to have been the recent
grounding of the Constellation on its way
to Norfolk, which he had charge of, and for
which it is supposed he had fear of being
court martialed. Furthermore, he was
very intimate with young Robert w. Gate
wood, who recently committed suicide on
the Carolina, and whom he saw in death.
1t is supposed that this death suggested
the mode to him. His wife, formerly Miss
Sloan, of New York, is away with her par.
ents. Lieutenant Danenhower leaves two
children. He was about thirty-seven wears
old, and an intelligent and polished officer.
Receipt of the News at the Navy Depart
ment-His Eventful Career,
WASHINGTON, April 2O.-Secretary Whit
ney to-day received telegram from Com
mander Sampson, at the Naval Academy,
Annapolis, stating that Lieutenant Danen-
hover had committed suicide there this
morning by shooting himself. The receipt
of the news created q sensation in the de-
partment, and was a subject of general
conversation among the officers and en-
ployes, who recalled certain incidents in
the lie OF the Lieutenant in explanation
of his suicide. The telegram announcing
the sad event also stated that the unfortu.
nate man was undoubtedly insane when he
took his own life.
Lieutenant Danenhower's career was
eventful, and his sufferings on the Inflated
Jeanette Arctic expedition are now fresh
in the public mind. He was born about
thirty'seven years ago in Illinois, and en-
tered the naval service in 1866. He was at
tached to the United States steamer Van
dslia during her cruise in the Mediterra
mean in 1857, when General Grant and
family were on board and visited the Holy
Land. 1t was before this cruise that the
Lieutenant, through his conduct, began to
show signs of an unbalanced mind, and
his malady soon assumed a form so violent
that in the year 1870, alter he had been
found wandering in a North Carolina
wilderness, his friends deemed it expedient
to proper treatment for him to confine
bin securely for about two months in St.
Elizabeth's insane asylum in this District.
He was among the first of the officers who
volunteered to go upon the Jeanette Arc
TIC expedition, sent out by James Gordon
Bennett. On July s, 1879, the Jeanette
sailed from San Francisco on a north Polar
expedition by way of Behring's straits.
The expedition was under the command of
Lieutenant Commander George W. De.
Long, assisted by Lieutenant Chipp and
Danenhower, and Chief Engineer Mel
vile. The last communication from the
vessel was dated "Cape Sertzekamen, Siberia,
September 2, 1879" although she was aft
erward seen off Wrangelland in about 100
north latitude. The crushing of the Jean,
nette in the back-lce; the separation in a
gale of the three boats containing the Of
6cers and crew; the starvation of Com
mander belong and his boats crew; the
loss of Lieutenant Chipp's boat and the ter
Tible sufferings and final rescue of Mel
ville's party are matters of history. In the
final separation of the boats belong placed
Danenhower under Melville's command,
for the reason, as 1.-the lieutenant said in his
report, that he was partially disabled by
the condition of his eyes. Naval officers,
however, maintain that it was 10 Danen-
hower's fine seamaDship and skillful hand
ling of the whale boat, Notwithstanding his
partial blindness, that the safe landing of
the crew was due. Melville and Danen-
hover were the only surviving officers of the
expedition. When Lieutenant Danenhower
returned to the United States in 1882 he was
placed on waiting orders during the prog
ress of the official inquiry into the loss of
the Jeanette, and afterward was granted
a years leave of absence. During this time
he delivered a number of lectures in differ
ent parts of the country. He was married
in New York while on leave of absence,
and has left wife and two children. In
September, 1884, he was assigned to duty at
Annapolis as assistant commandant of
cadets, which station he held at the time of
his death. A few days ago he was at Nor
folk, Va, looking after the equipment of
the practice ship Constellation, and it is
now recalled by officers who met him at the
navy yard that he was very morose and dis
traught, and the opinion was freely ex-
pressed that he was suffering from an at
tack of his old malady. Not the slightest
doubt is felt at the department of his in
sanity when he committed the act.
w. w. Danenhover, father of the Lieu
tenant, said in conversation tonight that
his son was treated for melaHcholia some
fifteen years ago snd speedily recovered.
Since then there has neve- been, to his
knowledge, any appearance or apprenen-
sion Of any mental unsoundness in HIM
until today. The remains of Danenhower
will be taken TO Washington tomorrow
for burial.
nurino tho Uintar months tho hind no.